The Spanish contingent within EUTM Mali keeps training the Malian Army

• The Spanish military conducts the Base Defence and Company Instructor courses at the Koulikoro Training Centre

 Despite the restrictions set by the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) keeps active, preparing and training the members of the country's armed forces.

With the aim of ensuring that the Malian military is prepared to take control of the situation in this African country plagued by instability, the members of the Mission are carrying out several courses at the Koulikoro Training Centre (KTC) in which they are instructed and trained in tactics and procedures to fight armed terrorist groups. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these courses had to be temporarily postponed.

The training of Malian personnel has now been resumed with two courses, the Basic Defence Course and the Company Instructors Course, following all health protocols required to keep personnel safe, in both of them.

Lieutenant Alonso and Corporal 1st class Gómez, of the VII "Bandera"  of the Legion, are among the instructors, which also includes military personnel from Austria, Slovakia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden. In this international environment, the different subjects and tasks to be instructed during the courses had to be redefined. Thus, the Malian soldiers have improved their skills in different areas such as shooting, combat in populations, setting check-points and others. As a final activity, they have carried out a tactical exercise based on the defence of a camp under attack.

As usual, our legionnaires have set up the difference with their work and professionalism, conducting the specific training handbook performed by the Spanish Legion. this training method  helped the Spanish instructors out to lead these training routines.

There is a long way ahead, but the Spanish contingent within EUTM Mali keeps focusing on the main misión, training the Malian forces to ensure they are able to face any situation in the north of the country.